Harris and Bradley & Anor

In *Harris and Bradley & Anor*, heard by Dawe J, the proceedings concerned interim parenting orders and case management issues. The dispute involved the father's failure to comply with previous court orders, specifically regarding the provision of a psychiatric report, which had prevented the court from obtaining an updated family report. The mother's psychiatric report had raised significant concerns about the children's safety.

The court was required to determine whether to grant an extension of time for the father to comply with outstanding orders, and how to best ensure the children's welfare pending a final judgment. The legal issues also encompassed the application of the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility, which the court found did not apply in this instance, and the need for an updated independent report given the serious issues raised by the mother's psychiatric evidence.

Dawe J extended the time for the father to comply with the outstanding orders for a further twenty-eight days, noting that if he failed to do so, the independent children's lawyer was to arrange for the independent expert to proceed with preparing his report regardless. The court made no interim orders regarding time spent between the mother and children, pending the receipt of the father's psychiatric report and affidavit. Pending final judgment, the children were ordered to live with their maternal grandmother, who was granted sole parental responsibility. The court also made directions regarding the release of reports to other psychiatrists and the payment of the hearing fee, adjourning the matter for further consideration of compliance and directions.